Mounting means for electrical devices

ABSTRACT

A relay mount includes a case for a relay, ears projecting away from both sides of the case, connector pins extending from the case above the plane of the ears, and a mounting track with spaced-apart elongated grooves in which the ears make a sliding and releasable fit.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Theodore ll. OCheskey Whittier, Calif.

[2]] Appl. No. 67,339

[ 22] Filed Aug. 27, I970 [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 [73] AssigneeUnited States Filter Corporation Whittier, Calif.

[54] MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES 3,340,440 9/1967 Minter317/101 CC 3,168,612 2/1965 Sorenson 200/168 C 3,244,941 4/1966 Maynardet al 200/168 C 3,274,450 9/1966 Siebold 200/ l 68 C 3,337,708 8/1967Cerveny et al 200/168 C FOREIGN PATENTS 1,167,577 10/1969 Great BritainPrimary ExaminerH. 0. Jones Attorney-Christie, Parker & Hale ABSTRACT: Arelay mount includes a case for a relay. ears projecting away from bothsides of the case, connector pins extending from the case above theplane of the ears. and a mounting track with spaced-apart elongatedgrooves in which the ears make a sliding and releasable fit.

1 MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to mounting devices for electrical apparatus such asrelays.

Relays are commonly sealed in glass, metal, or plastic cases, with pinsor contacts projecting from the case for connection to a conventionalrelay socket. When mounting relays to a panel or the like, it is commonto mount each relay to a terminal block, which is a mounting device thatincludes a socket and a plurality of terminals connected in series withthe respective receptacles of the socket. Each terminal is used toconnect a given electrical lead in series with a respective one of thecontacts on the relay when the relay is mounted in the socket of theterminal block.

Terminal blocks are particularly useful when mounting a large number ofrelays to a panel or the like. The terminal blocks are releasablymounted to the panel so they can be removed quickly and moved to variousother positions on the panel. Moreover, a relay can be quickly mountedin the socket, and electrical leads can be connected to the terminals ofthe mounting block relatively quickly and with ease. However, terminalblocks are expensive items which substantially add to the cost ofconstructing a relay circuit, particularly when a large number of relaysare used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lengthwise in each sidewall. The mounting earsfit into the grooves of the mounting track so the relay body makes areleasable sliding fit within the track to hold the relay body in afixed position with the connector pins in position for engagement withthe electrical leads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other features of theinvention are more fully set forth in the following detailed descriptionof the embodiment of the invention which is presently preferred, suchdescription being presented with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. I is a plan elevation of the relay mount; and

FIG, 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawing, a relay is hermetically sealed in a plastic case or dust cover12. A pair ofmounting ears 14 formed integrally with an edge of the case12 project outwardly from opposing sides of the case. Connector pins orcontacts 16 project from the case 12 in the same direction as one of themounting ears 14.

The relay 10 makes a sliding fit in a mounting track 17 having anelongated base 18 and a pair of upright sidewalls 20 formed integrallywith the base. The base 18 has an elongated recess 22 in its center withlongitudinally spaced-apart slotted holes 24. Mounting screws 26 fitinto the slotted holes to mount the track and relay to a panel 28. Apair of laterally spaced-apart ribs 30 formed integrally with the bottomof the base 18 extend lengthwise along the base parallel to the recess22 to provide stability for the mounting track 17 when it is fastened tothe panel 28. Each sidewall 20 has a respective elongated groove 32formed in its inner face and extending the length of the sidewall. Themounting track is preferably made of a flexible material such aspolyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or rubber.

In use, the relay 10 is mounted in the track 17 by pushing the relaydown into the channel formed by the track to snap the mounting ears 14into engagement with the respective grooves 32. The flexible sidewalls20 how outwardly, as shown by the phantom lines of FIG. 2, when themounting ears 14 are forced into engagement with the grooves. Thesidewalls 20 thereafter return to their normal position, shown in solidlines in FIG. 2, to hold the relay in a fixed position with contacts 16extending outwardly above the plane of the mounting ears I4 forengagement with cooperating terminals 34 of electrical leads 36.Contacts 16 are preferably blade-type contacts, and terminals 34 arepreferably the quick-connect" type terminals that make a tight frictionfit with the contacts 16 when slipped over the ends of contacts.

Thus, the relay l0 snaps into engagement with mounting track 18 aseasily and quickly as when a conventional terminal block is mounted to atrack on a panel or the like. The relay mount of this invention savesthe time required to connect a relay to the socket of the terminalblock. The relay I0 is slidable within the track 17 and is removablefrom the track as easily and quickly as a terminal block. Furthermore,the relay 10 may be connected to electrical leads in substantiallyshorter time than it takes to connect electrical leads to the terminalsof the conventional terminal block.

I claim:

I. The combination of a relay body, mounting ears formed integrally withopposite sides of the relay body, connector pins extending outwardlyfrom the relay body above the plane of the mounting ears for engagementwith a cooperating electrical lead, and a mounting track having andelongated base, sidewalls formed integrally with the base, and anelongated groove formed lengthwise in each sidewall, the mounting earsbeing constructed to fit into the grooves so the relay body makes areleasable sliding fit within the mounting track to hold the relay bodyin a fixed position with the connector pins in position for engagementwith the electrical lead.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mounting ears extend inthe same direction as the connector pins.

3. Apparatus according to claim I wherein the sidewalls of the mountingtrack are movable relative to the base so that the mounting ears may besnapped into engagement with the grooves.

I I i 1.! l

1. The combination of a relay body, mounting ears formed integrally withopposite sides of the relay body, connector pins extending outwardlyfrom the relay body above the plane of the mounting ears for engagementwith a cooperating electrical lead, and a mounting track having anelongated base, sidewalls formed integrally with the base, and anelongated groove formed lengthwise in each sidewall, the mounting earsbeing constructed to fit into the grooves so the relay body makes areleasable sliding fit within the mounting track to hold the relay bodyin a fixed position with the connector pins in position for engagementwith the electrical lead.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein themounting ears extend in the same direction as the connector pins. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sidewalls of the mountingtrack are movable relative to the base so that the mounting ears may besnapped into engagement with the grooves.